South Kensington is one of London’s most upmarket areas today, but in the 1960s it was more of a hangout for hippies and bohemians. A piece of that is still alive within the walls of the Gore Hotel.
The hotel, which has been around since 1892, is a treasure trove in a classic English townhouse, whose history is reflected in the interiors. Take the hotel bar, Bar 190, for example. Cherry wood wraps plaid-upholstered lounge chairs, and a secret enclave somehow transports you to Morocco. What’s the Rolling Stones portrait doing in the main room? Well, the rock band threw a wild party to celebrate their album. Banquet for Beggars at the bar in 1968. You’ll probably want to enjoy an Old Fashioned or two here, but where do you go when it’s time to call it a night? Here’s one option: the hotel’s Judy Garland Suite. It’s a mix of gimmickry and history, as you’ll sleep on the actress’s gold-plated bedstead, which was reportedly donated to the hotel and sent from Hollywood as a token of gratitude after Garland’s extended stay in the 1960s.
The Judy Garland Suite features stained glass windows that add to the drama of the room.
You see? If you want to stay in a run-of-the-mill luxury hotel, this is not the place for you. But if you crave something special, you will certainly like it. When you stay at The Gore, you are close to the Victoria & Albert Museum, Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall. But you may not even have to leave the property to experience the best of London.
Here we speak to JJ Pollack, General Manager of The Gore London, about what sets this hotel apart from the rest.
What do you think is the best room at The Gore London and why?
The Gore has close ties to music, being so close to the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal College of Music, and has a long tradition of hosting artists. We were privileged to host Judy Garland during her performances in London, and the room she stayed in (now named the Judy Garland Suite in her honour) is my favourite of our 50 unique rooms.
The Judy Garland Suite at the Gore Hotel in London features a Roman bath.
Like the actress herself, the room has an impressive past. Since she was away from her home in Hollywood for so long, she decided to ship her own bed across the Atlantic to use during her stay. After the final performance, she donated the bed to the hotel, which still stands in the room today. The suite even houses a replica of the famous red shoes used in the show.
To ensure our guests can enjoy the full theatrical magic, we offer a Judy Garland experience. The package, available for stays of two or more nights, includes a bottle of Judy fragrance by celebrity perfumer Vince Spinnato and Judy Garland’s daughter Lorna Luft, as well as a bespoke cocktail inspired by the actress.
How would you describe the atmosphere of the hotel?
The Gore is best described as quintessentially British. We have been a hotel since 1892, when the South Kensington area was rapidly developing following the Great Exhibition of 1851. The hotel retains its rich Victorian heritage in its classic furnishings and period features, so that when guests enter our hotel they feel as if they have stepped back in time. Velvets and patterned tapestries, gilded photographs and ornate furniture adorn the hotel, giving each room a charming character.
Our famous Bar 190, known for the Banquet for Beggars The Rolling Stones’ launch party in 1968 has more of a rock’n’roll theme. Images of the wild night line the wood-panelled bar, opposite the wall with our extensive drinks collection.
The Rolling Stones held an album release party in the hotel’s Bar 190. And the best thing about the room? A secret, padded room in the back.
What makes this hotel different from other hotels nearby?
You’ll find unique features in every corner of The Gore, from our bedrooms furnished with hand-carved Victorian bedsteads to our classic English library with a grand fireplace and stunning oil paintings.
Our restaurant, 190 Queen’s Gate, also offers a British menu using seasonal produce from the surrounding counties, prepared by our head chef Frederick Forster, who was named National Chef of the Year in 2011.
Tell us about the history of the hotel and how it contributes to the charm of the hotel?
189 and 190 Queen’s Gate, where The Gore now stands, were built by William Douglas on land purchased by the Commissioners of the Great Exhibition of 1851. The Commissioners also oversaw the construction of the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal College of Music, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum. When the sites were purchased by William Kirby in 1892, they were converted into serviced apartments with liveried staff, hot and cold running water, carriages for customers and even a hydraulic lift.
The Gore Hotel also features some typically English decorations, such as portraits of the Tudor family.
It was not until the hotel was owned by Robin Howard and Peter Herbert that the Elizabethan rooms, inspired by the Tudor revival of the 1950s, were built. The Tudor Room, with its linen panelling, stained glass windows and minstrel gallery, remains almost unchanged. The Star Chamber, however, is hidden in the basement and is now barely recognizable as our Tapestry Room. Finally, there was Backstage at The Globe, a dining room beneath an imaginative recreation of the famous Theatre in the Round.
Throughout its fascinating history, the Gore has seen many different owners, changing tastes and guests from all over the world. If walls could talk, the hotel would have some incredible stories to tell.
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